Power rebound to defeat Saints

Port Adelaide have bounced back from last week's record defeat, downing St Kilda by 23 points in their round 11 AFL encounter in Launceston.

West Coast thrashed the Power by 117 points last Sunday at Subiaco Oval, but the reigning premiers showed impressive resolve today to beat the Saints 16.8 (104) to 11.15 (81).

It is the Power's fourth win of the season leaving them just two points outside the top eight.

The Saints have now slumped to its sixth loss while hanging on precariously to eighth position on the AFL ladder.

They started the match positively with Fraser Gehrig kicked the opening goal, but it was the Power who enjoyed much of the early possession and they made sure they capitalised on their opportunities via the scoreboard.

They kicked four straight goals through Adam Kingsley, Matthew Primus, Warren Tredrea and Brendan Lade to establish an early 20-point lead, while a major to Nick Riewoldt was the only response St Kilda could muster.

Following Riewoldt's score, Port Adelaide continued its goal spree with three goals to Brett Montgomery, Gavin Wanganeen and Kingsley.

St Kilda pegged one goal back late in the term when Stephen Milne slotted a major from a set-shot opportunity.

At quarter-time, the Power led 7.3 (45) to 3.2 (20) and they built on their lead early in the second term when Brett Ebert got his boot to a loose ball in the goal square.

Tredrea kicked his second major of the match soon after to set up a 37-point lead, his kick from just inside the attacking 50 having received a favourable bounce close to goal.

St Kilda replied when Gehrig ran into an open goal square to record his second major of the match, but his effort was cancelled out when Dean Brogan registered Port Adelaide's 10th six-pointer as the term approached its halfway point.

The match then celebrated a milestone when 18-year-old Andrew McQualter kicked his first career goal and St Kilda's fifth, in what was only his third senior match.

But as was the pattern of the opening two quarters, the Power replied on the scoreboard almost immediately when Primus kicked his second goal.

Stuart Dew added another goal for Port Adelaide, stretching his side's lead out to 42 points before the addition of a series of behinds and a second major to Riewoldt at least kept St Kilda competitive on the scoreboard.

Tredrea's third goal in the shadows of half-time, however, meant Port Adelaide maintained its tight control on the match at the main break, leading 13.4 (82) to 6.6 (42).

Second half

As with the second quarter, Ebert opened up the scoring in the third with a goal for the Power.

His effort was backed up with another major to Primus as Port Adelaide jumped out to a 51-point lead.

In reply, Milne was able to kick a six-pointer from a difficult angle on the right forward flank to give St Kilda supporters some hope of a comeback and with Harvey's major that resulted from a free kick, the Saints had finally recorded back-to-back goals.

Brett Voss then added a goal before Gehrig kicked St Kilda's fourth unanswered major to put a further dint into Port Adelaide's seemingly unassailable lead.

Courtesy of their late charge, St Kilda put themselves back into contention but Port Adelaide still led by four goals at three-quarter time, 15.5 (95) to 10.11 (71).

The Saints needed to strike early in the final term if they were to have any hope of victory and Luke Ball's goal gave them every chance.

His six -pointer capped off a remarkable return to the match, the St Kilda midfielder having left the field in the first quarter with concussion.

St Kilda continued to pour on the pressure but their momentum was halted when Dominic Cassisi goaled for the Power in response.

The potentially tight finish did not eventuate and Cassisi's was the last major score with both side's swapping behinds in the dying stages of the match.